Hurricane resistant fabric clamps

Abstract

A storm protection system for covering the opening of a building with a flexible material. The system includes a bracket having a first panel and a second panel, the panels each having a surface, the first surface and the second surface of the bracket having a plurality of protrusions disposed thereon (and various embodiments thereof). Another embodiment utilizing at least one inclined planar portion connected to a planar portion of the bracket at the first edge of the inclined planar portion and an elongated member connected to the at least one inclined planar portion for securing a flexible material. A last embodiment includes a planar bracket having a first end and a second end, the planar bracket made of a resilient material. All embodiments operable to hold a flexible material (fabric, screen . . . etc.) over an opening to a building to protect the opening during a storm.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A bracket adapted to being mounted to a surface adjoining an opening and for securing a covering extending across the opening, said bracket comprising:
 first and second plate shaped members, each having pluralities of protrusions upon an opposing face such that said members are adapted to sandwich a portion of the covering therebetween; 
 a circumferentially arranged plurality of beams projecting from said first plate shaped member which are adapted to seat through an aligning grommet location of the sandwiched covering portion, said beams including outer end detent features which snap-fit within a receiving structure configured within said second plate shaped member; and 
 aperture patterns defined in at least one of said first and second members for receiving fasteners for compressing and gripping said plate shaped members against the covering. 
 
     
     
       2. The bracket as described in  claim 1 , said pluralities of protrusions each further comprising, diamond shaped patterns with pointed edges adapted to grip the covering portion. 
     
     
       3. The bracket as described in  claim 1 , further comprising said aperture pattern in said second plate shaped member including enlarged portions adapted to seat a head of each fastener, a threaded shaft of each fastener further adapted to engage through narrowed profiles associated with said aligning aperture pattern in said first plate shaped member. 
     
     
       4. The bracket as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a third plate shaped member having an additional aperture pattern and a plurality of protrusions upon a face opposing an exposed face of said second plate shaped member, said second and third plate shape members adapted to secure a second covering overlaying the first covering. 
     
     
       5. The bracket as described in  claim 4 , said second plate shaped member further comprising an intermediate positioned plate shaped member with said pluralities of protrusions on each of first and second opposite faces. 
     
     
       6. The bracket as described in  claim 5 , further comprising planar snap portions extending from opposite edge locations of said second plate shaped member, said snap portions being received within guiding members configured upon aligning edge locations of said first plate shaped member. 
     
     
       7. The bracket as described in  claim 6 , further comprising indentations formed in said edge locations of said first plate shaped member between said guiding members for receiving inward projections of said snap portions. 
     
     
       8. The bracket as described in  claim 5 , further comprising a circumferentially arranged plurality of beams projecting from said second plate shaped member which are adapted to seat through an aligning grommet location of the second sandwiched covering portion, said beams including outer end detent features which snap-fit within a receiving structure configured within said third plate shaped member.